Machine for applying paraffin or the like to paper or other fabrics.



E. H. VAVRA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PARAFFIN OR THE LIKE TO PAPER OR OTHER FABRICS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1,198,976. PatentedSept. 19,1916.

/ ziyizzwwz E. H- VAVRA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PARAFFIN OR THE LIKETO PAPER OR OTHER FABRICS. I

APPLICATION FILED MAR l2, l9l4. 1,198,976, PatentedSept. 19, 1916.

Y 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. x

E. H. VAVRA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PARAFFIN OR THE LIKE TO PAPER OR OTHER FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1914;

1,1 98,976 I Patented Sept: 19 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E. H. VAVRA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PARAFFIN OR THE LIKE TO PAPER OR OTHER FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-12,1914- Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 EMERICH H. VAVRA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PARAFFIN OR THE LIKE PAPER OR OTHER FABRICS.

To all whom it may concern B it known that I, EMERICII H. VAvnA, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful lmproycments in Machines for Applying Paraffin or the like toPaper or other Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for applying paraffinor the like to paper or other fabric, but more specifically to machinesfor applying paraffin and the like to paper cartons. My inventionis,however, particularly directed to improvements in machines whereinheretofore the cartons have been submerged in heated paraffin, andthereafter exposed to a cooling liquid for producing a tough, elasticcoating or investment, which promotes considerable flexure in the paperwithout breaking such coating, and not only renders the fiber of thecarton impervious to moisture and incapable of being discolored ordisintegrated by liquids, but adds to the attractiveness of the cartonand the printed matter thereon.

The prime object of this inventionbroadly stated is to provide a meansfor securing the above described valuable results with the use of aminimum amount of parafiin or the like.

More specifically stated the object of my invention is to provide ameans by which the squeeze rollers for the cartons may be utilized as agage for determining the thickness of the material applied tothe-cartons, in their passage from between said rollers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the guiderollers directing the cartons to the squeeze rollers are moved bygravity. to operative engagement with and actuated by the submergingrolls, and whereby said guide rolls may be swung away from and above thesubmerging rolls for access to the latter.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for suspending thesubmerging rolls from their drive shaft with which they are positivelyconnected by a gear wheel mechanism whereby said rolls'may be submergedinand lifted from the contents of the machine, without disconnectingtheir driving gearing.

.-\"further object of my invention is to provide an adjustablesuspending means for Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 19,191(} Application filed March 12, 1914. I

Serial No. 824,125.

the guide fingers between which the cartons ar directed from the supplyto the feed rollers of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide for pivotally supportingone end of the carton magazine whereby said magazine may be bodilyadjusted on the are of a circle, the axis of which is in a plane belowand outwardly beyond the inner end of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide the magazine with aflexible roughened support projecting beyond the inner end thereof to apoint beneath the carton supply roller and utilize the adjacent guidingfingers as a flexible support therefor.

ith these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certainfeatures of novelty in the construction, combination 'and arrangement ofparts by which the said objects and certain other objects ar attained,all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention, portions being broken away in order to expose underlyingparts, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine,'Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on substantially line vv of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a detail view of themechanism for feeding the articles singly from the ma zine of thedevice, Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on substantially lineww of Fig. 2, Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail sections taken on linesaca2 and y-y respectively of Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectionillustrating .a slightly modified form of construction, the sectionbeing taken on substantially line 2-2 of Fig. 2.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingscomprises a supporting frame consisting of legs 1 and longitudinallyextending frame members 2.

Arranged at one end of the tank 3 is a magazine in which the articles Ato be treated are arranged by the operator preparatory to the passage ofsaid articles through the machine. This magazine comprises an inclinedplatform 5 the inner end of which is supported by arms 6 upon atransversely extending rod 7 set screws 8 cooperating with the members 6to-secure the same to said rod. The outer end of the platform 5 isadjustably supported by a longitudinally adjustable leg, not shown.

Arranged at the lower or discharge end of the platform 5 is a cartonsupply roller 9 fixed to a shaft 10. Said roller 9 is provided at itsperiphery with a coating of frictional material, preferably rubber, asshown.

Arranged centrally upon the upper side of platform 5 adjacent the roller9 is a strip 11 of rubber or other suitable frictional material securedin position by means of a clamp 12 with which cooperates a thumb screw13, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The

lower end of strip 11 is normally pressed into contact with theperiphery of roller 9 by means of a curved spring plate 14 supportedupon cross bars 15 and 16, one end of said plate projecting from the bar16 and taking over the adjacent edge of tank 3 in order to serve as aguide for the articles after the same pass the roller 9, as will bereadily understood.

The articles A which it is desired to pass through the machine arearranged upon the platform 5 ininclined position, said articles beingarranged one behind the other, the lower edge portion of the foremostthereof engaging against the periphery of roller 9. The arrangement issuch that, upon rotation of said roller in a counter clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 3, the articles A will be withdrawn singly from themagazine or platform 5, the frictional coating of roller 9 gripping theforemost article and advancing the same, the strip 11 serving to holdthe other articles back so as to preven' more than one bein withdrawn ata tim Because of the inclination of the platform 5, the articles A willbe fed toward the roller 9 by gravity. The respective ends of shaft 10of roller 9 are mounted for vertical adjustment in the frame members 2,screws 18 C06 crating with said bearing blocks 17 to ad ust the same andhence the roller 9 vertically, thumb nuts 19 cooperating with saidscrews to lock the same in positions of adjustment. The shaft 10 isdriven through the medium of a gear 20 which is loosely mounted thereon,operative connection between said gear and said shaft being effectedthrough a shiftable clutch 21 splined to said shaft 10, as shown in Fig.5. The clutch member 21 is provided at one side with clutch teeth whichare adapted to interlock with clutch teeth provided upon the adjacentside of gear 20 and so that when said clutch teeth are interlockcrl. anoperative connection will be established between the gear 20 and theshaft 10. Shifting of the clutch member 21 is effected by means of ashifting fork 22 which is fulcrumed at its lower end at 23, as shown inFig. 4. Cooperating with said shifting fork is a helical compressionspring 21 which serves to normally hold the clutch member 21 inoperative relation with the gear 20, as will be readily understood. Withthis arrangement then, it will be seen that normally, assuming the gear20 to be constantly driven, the shaft 10 will be constantly rotated andhence feeding of articles from the magazine constantly effected.Disconnection of shaft 10 from gear 20 and hence cessation of thefeeding of articles A byroller 9, is secured through the medium of alever 25.which is connected with the shifting fork 22 by a rod 26. Thelower end of the lever 25 is adjustably fulcrumed at 27, the arrangementbeing such that, shifting of the clutch member 21 to disengagingposition may be effected by tilting the upper end of lever 25 toward themachine or toward the right, as shown in Fig. 4. Pivotally mounted uponthe upper end of lever 25 is a. detent 28 provided with a notch 29 whichis adapted to embrace the adjacent edges of the supporting frame 2, whensaid lever is rocked to shift the clutch member 21 to disengagingposition, said. detent 28 serving to releasably hold said lever in thisposition. In Fig. 1 this detent is shown in inoperative position, thelower end or handle of said detent, when the same is in use, beingrocked outwardly and upwardly so as to rock the slotted portion of saiddetent inwardly and downwardly into engagement with the upper edge ofthe adjacent frame member 2.

Arranged {lbOXB the tank 3 adjacent the outlet end thereof is thedriving shaft 30 of the machine which is mounted in suitable bearingsprovided in uprights 31 arising from the frame members 2. The shaft ,30is provided with fixed and loose pulleys 32 and 33 respectively withwhich cooperates a driving belt 32, as well be readily understood. Asuitable belt shifting mechanism 34 cooperates with the belt 32' forshifting said belt from one pulley to the other in starting and stoppingthe machine. The shaft 30 serves to support a bearing frame whichconsists of angular arms the u per end portions of which pivotallyembrace said shaft, as clearly shown in the several views. Mounted inand extending between the lower ends of the arms 35 are cooperatingrollers 36 and37 so arranged that their peripheries normally contactwith each other. The roller 36 is mounted in adjustmeagre I ing contactof the periphery thereof with the periphery of roller 37.. Said rollers36 and 37 are operatively connected by meshing gears 38 and 39 fixedrespectively thereto, operative connection between the same and shaft 30being effected through an idler gear 40 which meshes with the gear 39and also with a pinion 41, fixed to said shaft. The free ends of arms 35are adjustably supported in the tank 3 by means of laterally projectingfingers 42 secured tothe free 7 ends of said arms, at the outer ends ofwhich are provided screws 43 threaded therein, the lower ends of saidscrews contacting with the upper edges ofv frame bars 2, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2. With this arrangement, it will be seen, thatrpivotaladjustment of the arms 35 in order to efiect vertical adjust ment of therollers 36 and 37 may be effected by simply rotating screws 43.

Arranged adjacent roller 36 is arpair of feeding rollers 44 and 45 fixedto shafts 46 and 47, the ends of which are mounted in bearings providedin supporting arms pivotally connected with the arms 35, each of saidsupporting arms being formed of two sections 48 and 48' which arepivotally connected. Provided at corresponding ends of the shafts 46 and47 are meshing gears-49 and 50 respectively, the gear 50 being'connected through the medium of an idler 51 with a gear 38 which isfixed to thecorresponding end of roller 36. With thisrarrangement itwill be-seen that the gear 51 will be maintained in mesh with thegear-38 through gravity, the former resting in engagement with thelatter simply through the weight supported by the arms 4848'. Also, thearrangement is such that if desired, the supporting arms 4848 may berocked upwardly in order to carry the feed rollers 44 and 45 from'position in front of the roller 36. This is of particular advantage" forthe reason that, in operation, the peripheries of rollers 36 ahd 37 arewrapped with strips of fabric or padding and by so mounting the feedingrollers 44 and 45 as to permit of the same being moved upwardly fromproximity with the roller 37, access maybe readily gained to the latterfor wrap-- ping or unwrapping the periphery. thereof. Similarly the arms35 are so arranged that the free ends thereof may be rocked upwardly inorder to carry rollers 37 and 38 and the parts co'c'vperating therewithupwardly out of the tank 3 in order to permit of ready access beinggained to the interior of the latter for repairing the same or for anyother reason. Said arms 35 are releasably locked in the last mentionedposition by means of a detent 35' adapted, when said arms are thuspositioned, to engage with a rod 35 which extends between and connectsthe upper 74, 74' and 75.

ends of said arms, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The articlesA fed from the magazine by the roller 9 are guided toposition between the feeding rollers 44 and .45 by means of spacedguiding fingers 52 and 56, each of the fingers 52 being secured to ahead 53 which is adjustably secured by means of a set screw 54 to atransversely extending supporting bar 55. The fingers 56 are supportedat corresponding ends upon a transversely extending bar 57 which issupported at its ends by fingers 58 which depend from the rod 55, theopposite ends of fingers 56 being loosely supported upon a rod 59secured at its ends in the arms 55. The rod 59 also supports a curvedplate 60 which serves when the machine is in use, to deflect thearticles A upwardlyinto engagement between the rollers 36 and 37. Therod 59 is mounted for rotary adjustment in arms 35 in order to rock theplate 60 into proper position under the roller 37, set screws 61codperating with rod 59 to frictionally hold the same and hence theplate 60 in positions of adjustment. A= finger 62 projecting upwardlyfrom one end of the rod 59 serves as ahandle for adjusting such rod andhence the plate 60, as will be readily understood.

The articles A are guided from the rollers 36 and 37 by spaced fingers63 which are secured by thumb screws 64 to a transversely extending bar65 secured at its ends to the- 66 may be dispensed with and in lieuthereof a roller 67 employed which will be opera tively connected withthe shaft 30 by means of an endless belt 68, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Upon entering the tank 4, the articles A will be engaged betweencoiiperating endless aprons constituted by spaced strings or cords 69and 69,the cords 69 being trained around rollers 70, 71,72 and 73, andthe springs or cords .69" being trained around rollers The rollers 71.72, 74 and 74 are mounted in substantially U-shaped supporting frames 76which extend into the tank 4 at the opposite sides thereof, beingsupported by laterally projecting lugs 77 which engage against the upperedges of the lateral walls of said tank, and which are clamped inposition by bars 78 with which cotiperate screws or bolts 78. Therollers 73 and 75 are operatively connected by meshing gears 79 and 80which are fixed respec tively to saidrollers. Also fixed to the roller73 is agear 81 which meshes with a gear 82 fixed to a roller 83, asclearly shown in Figs.

'6 and 7. Coiiperating with the roller 83 is a second roller 84, therollers 83 and 84 being arranged in superimposed relation and beingadapted, when the machine is in operation, to serve in the capacity of awringer, being adapted to remove any superfluous water clinging to theopposite sides of the articles A after their passage through the coolingbath contained in tank 4, a helical compression spring 86' coiiperatingwith theroller 84 in order to press the same into close con- I tact withthe roller 83, as will be readily understood. Said rollers 83 and 84areopera-- tively connected by meshing gears 85 and 86 which are providedrespectively upon said rollers, the roller 84 being provided also with abevel gear 87 which meshes with a bevel gear 88 upon a shaft 89 throughthe medium of whichsaid rollers 83 and 84 and hence rollers '18 and 75are rotated, the rotation of the last mentioned rollers resulting, ofcourse, in the driving of cords 69 and 69. The shaft 89 is also providedwith a bevel gear 90which meshes with a bevel gear 91 which isoperatively connected through the medium of a gear 92 with the gear 20which 'efi'ects rotation of the feeding roller 9, as

above described. To the shaft 89 is also fixed a bevel gear 93 whichmeshes with a bevel gear 94 provided upon one end of the driving shaft80, thereby establishing an operative connection between the source ofpower and the shaft 89 and consequently the parts with which said shaftis operatively connected, as just described.

In the operation of the machine, the tank 3 is first supplied withparafiin or other like cles A conveyed through the tank betweensubstancewith which it is desired to impregnate the articles A. In orderto maintain the paraffin, where the latter is-used, in a liquid state, aburner 95 of conventional type is arranged under the tank 3 in order toheat the latter and hence the paraffin con-' the traveling cords 69 and69'. A drain pipe 99 leads from the tank 4,- a constant circulation ofcold water being maintained in the tank duringthe operation of themachine through the constant supply introduced through pipe 97 and theconstant draining through pipe 99. A shield 100 is arranged over theforward end of the tank 3 above the guide fingers 52 in order to preventspattering of the hot paraffin, when the machine is in operation. In theoperation of the machine then, the articles A which it is desired totreat are arranged in the magazine upon the platform 5 in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 3. Upon rotation of the roller 9, the articles Awill be withdrawn singly as above described, and directed by said rollerto position between the upper ends of guide rods 52 and the plate 14.The articles will slide downwardly to position between guide rods 56 andthe lower, ends of'guide rods 52 into engagement between the rollers 44and 45 which will direct the same onto the curved plate 60 whence thearticles will be guided upwardly into engagement between the rollers 36and 37. After passing between said rollers, the articles will passbetween guide fingers 63and plates 66 or roller 67 which will directthesame to position between the conveyer cords 69 and 69 contained inthe tank 4. In the passage through the tank 3, the articles A will beimmersed in the paraffin bath contained therein and immediately afterbeing carried from said bath will be immersed in the cooling bathcontained in the tank 4 into which bath said articles will be carried bythe cords 69 and 69'. Said cords after carrying said articles throughthe cooling bath will deliver the same to position between the wringingroll ers 83a-nd 84 which will discharge the same into a suitablerecept'acle provided therefor at the end of tank 4.

The rollers 36 and 87 provided in the tank 8 are supported with theirlower end portions dipping into the parafiin bath, the level of thelatter being slightly below the upper side of roller 37 but above theline of contact between said rollers. By thus positioning said rollers,the same will serve in the double capacity of means for pressing theparafiin into the opposite sides of the articles being treated in orderto insure the proper impregnation thereof, and at the same time willserve as a gage to determine the thickness of the paraffin coatingapplied to the opposite sides of said articles. The latter function isserved by said rollers by reason of the fact that with the arrangementdescribed and with said rollers rotating so that the upper sides thereofrecede or move from each other, the liquid paraflin, although the levelthereof is above that of the points of contact of said rollers, will notbe permitted to flow into the space between said rollers above the lineof contact thereof because any parafiin flowing into said space at theends of the rollers will adhere to and be carried away by the recedingperipheries of said rollers, said roller peripheries moving faster thanthe parafiin is adapted to flow. In practice it has been found that theparaffin will flow into the space between said rollers about one inch ateach end, the conmeagre the roller 36. Through the pivotal adjustmentwhich is afforded the supporting arms 35, said rollers 36 and 37 may bevertically adjusted in order to secure the proper positioning thereofrelative to the level of the paraffin bath contained in the tank 3. A

plurality of fingers 63 instead of the solid guiding plate is employedfor contact with the articles after passage between the roll ers 36 and37 so as to reduce the-disturbance of the paraffin coat upon-thearticles to a minimum. This also is the reason for the employment of aplurality of cords 69 and 69 instead of solid aprons or belts inconveying the articles through the cooling bath.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without. departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers, one of which rollers has its upper sid located, in

a plane approximately that of the level of.

the coating material, and means for simultaneously rotating said rollers1n .opposlte directions, whereby the coating material-is prevented fromoverflowing said rollers, and their surfaces above their point ofcontact is utilized to gage the thickness of the coating adhering to thearticles passing from contact with the rollers.

2. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers, one of which partly projects in a plane above, and

the upper surface of the other in a plane substantially the level of thecoating mate rial, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers inopposite directions at a speed preventing. the coating material fromflowing between said rollers above their point of contact.

.to the coated article their point of contact.

4, A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers one of which projects out of and above the level of the coatingmaterial, the other being located in a plane just below said level,means for simultaneously rotating said rollers in 0pposite directions ata speed preventing the coating material from entering between saidrollers above their point of contact, whereby the capillary attractionof the surfaces of the rollers are utilized for. reducing the thicknessof the material adhering passing from between said rollers.

5. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair. of contactingrollers, one of .which projects out of and above the level of thecoating material, the other of-which rollers projects in a planeapproximately the level of said material, means for simultaneouslyrotating said rollers in opposite directions, whereby the coatingmaterial adhering to the rollers above their point of contact isdischarged into the body of the coating material at the surface thereof.

6. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers, a drive, shaft therefor, a positive gear connection betweensaid rollers and shaft, feed rollers for directing the articles to becoatedthrough the coating material to said contacting rollers, apositive gear connection between thefeed rollers and the contactingrollers, and means whereby the feed rollers are maintained by gravity inoperative connection with the contacting rollers, whereby the feedrollers automatically ad.- just themselves to the adjustable position ofthe contacting rollers.

7. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers, feed rollers therefor, a power shaft, a positive gearconnection between said feed rollers, contacting rollers and shaft, anda suspend ing means for the feed rollers for maintaining theminoperative connection with the drive shaft by gravity, and whereby saidfeed rollers may beswung free and clear of the contacting rollers forconvenient access to the-latter.

8. A coating machine comprising in combination a drive shaft, a swingingframe pivotally suspended from. said shaft, contacting rollers journaledin said frame, feed rollers, a positive gear connection between thecontacting rollers with the feed rollers and the drive shaft, and apivotal support for and suspendingthe feed rollers from said frame.

9. A coating machine comprising in combination a pair of contactingrollers arranged to spread and gage the thickness of the coating.material applied to articles ed through said tank so as to immerse thesame in the liquid bath contained in said tank, said means comprising apair of contacting rollers; guiding means leading to and from saidrollers, said guiding means leading to said rollers comprising a pair offeeding rollers; pivoted supporting arms carrying said feeding rollersat their free ends; and an operative connection between said two sets ofrollers permitting'said feeding rollers to be moved upwardly toinoper'ative position by upward rocking of said supporting arms,substantially as described.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a tank for paraiiin orthe like; means for conveying the articles to be treated through saidtank so as to immerse the same. in the liquid bath contained in saidtank, said means comprising a pair of contacting rollers; guidingmeans'leading to and from said rollers, said guiding means leading tosaid rollers comprising a pair of feeding rollers; pivoted supportingarms carrying said feeding rollers at their free ends; and an operativeconnection between said two sets of rollers, said connection comprisinggears on said rollers releasably iaeaeve maintained in mesh through theweightof said feeding rollers and the supporting arms therein wherebysaid feeding rollers may be moved upwardly to inoperative position byupward rocking of said supporting arms, substantially as described.

12. A machine of the class described com prising a tank for paraffin orthe like; means for conveying the articles to be treated through saidtank so as to immerse the same in the liquid bath contained in saidtank, said means comprising a driving shaft mounted above said tank;arms supported by and depending from said shaft; rollers mounted inbearings provided in said arms; and a gear connectionbetween said shaftand said rollers, substantially as described.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a tank for parafiin orthe like; means for conveying the articles to be treated from one sideof said tank, immersing the same in the liquid bath contained in saidtank, and discharging said articles at the other side of said tank, saidmeans comprising a driving shaft mounted above said tank; arms pivotallysupported by and depending from' said shaft; rollers mounted in bearingsprovided in said arms, said arms'being adapted to be rocked to elevatesaid rollers in said tank; and a gear connection between said shaft andsaid rollers, substantially as described.

in testimonv whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMERICH H. VAVRA.

Witnesses:

JosHUA ll. l-l. Porrs, HELEN F. LILLIS.

